Senior Department News

This Week in Year 6

This week Year 6 have been enjoying their long-awaited residential trip to PGL Liddington Multi Activity Centre.

It looks like they have been having a fantastic time in the sunshine, and we look forward to hearing all about it next week.

In the meantime, take a look at their week away in photos below:

This Week in Year 7

Taking on Responsibility

In the absence of Top Form this week, Year 7 have enjoyed being “top of the School” and have been learning more about the leadership opportunities that await them next year.

At the end of last week Year 7 assumed some of these Top Form responsibilities as they prepare to transition to their final year at Beechwood. Mrs Peel had lots of new helpers for the Second Hand Uniform Sale last Friday,  and Year 7’s thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to get involved.

Boarders’ Trip to Lords

On Thursday evening, Year 7 boarders enjoyed a trip to Lords Cricket Ground, regarded as the Home of Cricket.  Not only did they watch the Essex v Middlesex match, which everyone enjoyed, but they also had the opportunity to play at the back with the Middlesex coaching teams.  A fabulous evening – and a great 12th birthday for Will F!  Thank you to Mr and Mrs Humphreys for arranging this fun evening!

This Week in Top Form

Whilst Year 7 held the fort back at Beechwood, Top Form pupils have  been enjoying their residential trip at Skern Lodge in Devon.  From the looks of the photographs that Mr Darcy, Mrs Wilkins, Mrs Hegarty and Mr Hinton have been sharing on Twitter, they have been basking in some beautiful weather as they challenged themselves across a range of physical activities – rafting on the River Torridge, surfing at Westwood Ho!, riding the rib and donuts,  abseiling, coastal traversing and the slightly more sedate attempt at crabbing.

All of these activities offer opportunities to build skills such as teamwork, collaboration, problem solving and courage to challenge themselves, and we can see that Top Form have all thrown themselves into it with gusto.  We can’t wait to hear all about it when they get back to School on Monday – pretty sure there will be some tired young people coming home later today!

Enjoy a selection of photos below:

Reminders

Whole School Photo

On Monday 27 June, The School Photography Company will come onsite to take a photograph of all the pupils and staff at School, in one sitting. We plan to finish by 1100. Unfortunately we won’t be able to add pupils to the photograph if they are not present.

Please can you make sure that your child or children are wearing their Summer Uniform, and for pupils in Year 1 and above they also wear / bring their Beechwood blazer.  Boys should also ensure they have their school tie with them at School.

Sports Day 2022

Senior Department Sports Day (click to see programme for the day) is on Monday 27 June. The first event is due to commence at 1130 and presentations are due to finish at 1400. Lunch time is 1330 – 1415. Please note this is following the whole school photograph so pupils will be coming into school in their uniform and changing into their PE kit. 

All pupils will be involved in every time slot for their year group. Pupils will be served lunch inside. Parents are welcome to use the lunch slot to enjoy their own picnic around the chairs and/or Haha area, between the chairs and marquee. Match teas will be served to parents following presentations and pupils will enjoy a treat too. After they have enjoyed this, pupils will be able to sign out with the form teachers and go home with parents or be collected at usual time. We will sent out a Google form next week for parents to confirm collection arrangements.

Please remember all pupils will need to be wearing their Beechwood PE kit with white house shirt, white/navy shorts, white socks and trainers. Please remember Beechwood hats, layers, sun cream and a named water bottle.

DE Photo will be onsite taking photos of  Senior Department Sports Day. Parents will be able to view and buy photos of their child/children on the day.

We look forward to seeing you!

From the Senior Library

Escape to the River Sea, by Emma Carroll

Escape to the River Sea is award-winning Emma Carroll’s latest release, inspired by Eva Ibbotson’s bestselling, classic masterpiece, Journey to the River Sea. Carroll has tactfully retained some of the original characters while creating a beautiful standalone story. 

The central character, Rosa, escaped from Vienna (Ibbotson’s birthplace) on the Kindertransport and spent the war years at the dilapidated West Country mansion house owned by Sir Clovis and Lady Prue, surrounded by the girls from an evacuated London school and the animals from the local zoo. Post war loneliness and the arrival of Dr Yara Fielding, a young scientist, is the catalyst for the next stage of her adventure, in the beautifully evoked Amazon rainforest where she finds the lively family and starts to come to terms with what might have happened to her mother and sister. But the lingering horrors of war are reaching out into the jungle too and there are dangers to face and villains to defeat.

There are some fascinating themes to explore in this rich and enjoyable text: exploitation of land and resources in both the UK and the Amazon basin, the ethics of keeping animals in captivity; or the fate of child refugees whether during WWII or in the present time.

Head’s Commendations

Congratulations to the recipients of this week’s Head’s Commendations: